The Appalachian State University softball dropped a pair games at Radford Thursday. Despite a solid pitching performance from Shivaun Landeros (Sparks,

Nev./Edward C. Reed) in game one, App State fell 3-2. The Mountaineers (17-26) lost game two, 4-1.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Highlanders (19-20) plated the winning run when Becky Mantel was hit by the pitch with the bases loaded.

Caroline Rogers (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett) had a run-scoring infield single in the fifth inning that snapped a scoreless tie. The Mountaineers also lost a runner at the plate, when with the bases loaded, pinch runner Pepper Butler (Delray Beach, Fla./Boca Raton Community) was thrown out at home on a Dani Heichen's (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) fielders choice.

Sarah Warnock (Jamestown, N.C./Southwest Guilford) led off the sixth with her eighth double of the season and 31st of her career. A couple of batters later, Cara Parker doubled down the left field line scoring pinch runner Caroline Chambers (Kings Mountain, N.C./Kings Mountain) for a 2-0 lead.

Heichen extended her hitting streak to nine games with an infield single followed by her team-leading 17th stolen base of the season and 46th of her career. The swiped bag moves Heichen into sole possession of eighth place on the all-time list in program history.

Landeros went six innings and allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts. The Mountaineers pounded out nine hits and were led by Parker who finished 2-3.

In game two, the Mountaineers, despite jumping on top 1-0, lost 4-1.

Lindsay Loudermilk's sacrifice fly in the fourth plated App State's only run. But the Highlanders rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jessie Hutchens' three-run homer gave Radford a 3-1 lead. Whitney Davis followed with a home run of her own to make it, 4-1.

Sydney Laws (Brownwood, Texas/Brownwood) suffered her seventh loss of the season. She went 4 2/3 innings and allowing four runs and four hits with three strikeouts. Alissa Schoelkopf (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) tossed the final inning and a third with three strikeouts. She stuck out the side in the sixth, moving her into sole possession of fourth place on the school's all-time for career strikeouts. Schoelkopf has 238 career punch outs.

The Apps would out hit the Highlanders again in game two with Parker leading the way finishing 2-3 for the second consecutive game. Heichen extended her hitting streak to 10 games.

Appalachian returns home to play No.24 USC-Upstate in a single game starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.

Women's Tennis Falls to Samford to End Season

Appalachian State University womens tennis saw its season come to an end in a 4-0 loss to No. 2 Samford in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Southern Conference Championships on Thursday at the Champions Club.

The Mountaineers (9-16) dropped the doubles point and never recovered as the Bulldogs (19-2) extended their winning streak to seven matches and advanced to Fridays semifinals.

Samford, which entered the week ranked No. 73 in the latest ITA rankings, earned easy wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles by scores of 8-1 and 8-0, respectively. Appalachians top duo of Mackenzie LaSure/Gabrielle Wreder led 5-3 at No. 1, but the match went unfinished as the Bulldogs had already clinched the doubles point.

In singles play, the Mountaineers lost at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 to seal their fate. Clare Cox dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision at the top spot while Wreder fell by a 6-0, 6-2 final at No. 2 and Brianna Armellino lost 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4.

The remaining three singles matches were halted following the conclusion of the No. 4 match as Samford had already reached four points to earn the win. Jessica Thaggard was in a first-set tiebreak at No. 5 when the match was decided while LaSure led 5-1 in the second set and was on her way to forcing a third set at No. 2.

The Mountaineers return nine players next season, none of whom will be seniors, and lose only Thaggard to graduation.